Jessica Latimer

BSc - Zoology and Computational Science (2016-currnet) University of Queensland

Research Interests

I was lucky enough to grow up half an hour away from Australia Zoo. When I was eight, my grandmother gave my mum and I a year pass; this was when my passion for animals and conservation began to develop. Watching Steve Irwin on TV and being made aware of conservation issues drove me to my Zoology major. I have never wanted to become anything else – always a Zoologist with a focus on conservation research.

Throughout my degree I have been involved with a program called Advanced Study Program in Science (ASPinS). It is aimed to give undergraduates a taste of research life. This is how I found myself working in the Wilson Performance Lab under Skye’s guidance last year. I completed a mini research project analysing relationships between morphology of Northern quolls and their sprint speed, acceleration and deceleration. This year I hope to expand upon that research.

Playing with Capuchin monkeys and trying to polish Rambo’s (the tortoise) shell – Bolivian animal refuge

Last semester, while on exchange at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, I volunteered in Tony Farrell’s lab. I spent the semester dissecting salmon hearts, where the ability of their coronary arteries will be tested and compared. It was a great opportunity to be involved with a completely different lab.

After my exchange, I decided to travel through Peru and Bolivia. I spent 3 weeks volunteering at an animal refuge in the Bolivian Amazon where I got to work with many unique species, observe their behaviours, and conduct tours about the illegal trade of our animals to tourists. I got to interact with some incredible species such as capuchin monkeys, a capybara, a tapir, an armadillo, tortoises, Andean deer, native parrots, toucans and Amazonian river turtles. That’s not even including the animals volunteers couldn’t work with!!

Top of the Lone Cone hike, 730m high – Tofino, Vancouver Island

An early morning at Lake Louise – Alberta, Canada

Chacaltaya mountain in the summer (early Feb) with an elevation equal to that of Mt Everest’s base camp (5300m). No, I did not hike up there, we drove most of it – La Paz, Bolivia

Personal Interests

Anything and everything that involves being outside, I love. Hiking, horse riding, caving etc. allows me to immerse myself in nature while fulfilling my passions for adventure and nature photography.

I have recently caught the travel bug after coming back from Canada and South America. My favourite places to visit are surrounded by National Parks and have plenty of outdoor activities. Every time I come home from my adventures I am even more impressed at the diversity of our globe, driving me to help preserve as many species as I can.